Fangtastic Friday – Interview with Louann Carroll

Posted by Dawn McClure on March 26, 2010 · 13 Comments 

Please welcome author Louann Carroll, author of Gemini Rising.  Louann is the winner of Crescent Moon Press’ annual writer’s award for paranormal romance. She has also written numerous children’s books and was the senior editor/writer for the award winning book, AdoptingOnline.com.  

ETS – Tell us a little about yourself.  

I’m married with three children and 6 grandchildren with number 7 on the way. (I started VERY young.) I love rock hunting, archaeology, paleontology, and geology and have spent countless hours immersed in each. My grandchildren are the highlight of my life and I like nothing more than spending time with them. My husband and I love to take ‘driving vacations’ where we often end up in Nevada searching for fossils and rocks. My favorite find is a 45 million year old specimen of brain corral. I also have a dinosaur egg, many crystals, and a few Native American face painting bowls and grinders. 

Before moving to the foothills I was C.E.O of  a business in the Bay Area. My husband and I owned part of the business along with 200+ doctors. After selling we moved to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. When looking out our back deck, we have a herd of deer that live year round. Each one has a name and comes when we call. (They love bananas.) Adding to our household we have two dogs, Chelsea and Gus. You can see pictures at http://www.louanncarrollbooks.weebly.com/ under Louann’s life. 

ETS – When did you realize you wanted to write romance?  

I’ve read romance since I was a kid. Books such as Sweet Savage Love, Savage Desire, and Lost Love, Last Love by Rosemary Rogers filled my days and nights as I raised my children, transporting me from the trials and tribulations of life. Once I joined my love of romance with my passion of archaeology, paleontology, and geology, I knew I wanted to create a book that would incorporate everything I enjoyed along with two people desperately in love. Those desires brought to life the book Gemini Rising.   

ETS – What can reader’s expect when they read Gemini Rising?  

Gemini Rising is filled with mystery, intrigue, passion, along with hints of prophecy, written through time in the petroglyphs of the Anasazi people. Together with Kate Kelly, the reader will traverse alternate worlds that walk side by side with our own, learning, along with Kate, how they influence and protect her life as she records the death throes of a mighty civilization while accepting the emergence of Earth into the Intergalactic community.  Here is a short blurb: 

A Paranormal Romance
http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/ 

Over 5,000 years ago, Sumerian cuneiform tablets warned future civilizations of the planet Nibiru.

Kate Kelly, wife of famous archaeologist Jason Kelly, follows her husband to Sedona, Arizona with her son Ryan to assist in the uncovering of an ancient Anasazi village. During her passage across the states, a large comet appears overhead, clouding the skies with red dust. Some say the comet is icy residue left over from the big bang. Others say it heralds the end of times.

Within days nightmares begin, within weeks, the first signs of a coming maelstrom appear. A UFO appears overhead, computers spit out nonsensical sentences, and Kate meets an ancient Anasazi woman, named Woman Who Walks With Light. Noah, an alien light being sent to assist Earth is drawn to Kate, and Bel, his superior, has known for eons that Kate Kelly will be the chosen human to record the final collapse of Earth’s greatest civilization. Attracted and bound to her by previous lives, Noah is assigned to Kate. Soon they become the conduit through which humanity is reborn and together they witness a new Earth coming to power in a galactic age.

ETS – How did you come up with the premise?  

Even though many say this, I actually had a dream that was the root of Gemini Rising. Through my studies of theoretical physics, alternate realities, religions, and the like, Gemini Rising came into being. I wanted to combine everything I loved into one book making the writing and reading fascinating and wonderful. 

ETS – Big Mac or Whopper?  

Burger King chicken sandwich or chicken nuggets, but if I have to chose, Whopper. I also prefer chocolate milkshakes with fries and honey mustard sauce. I am without doubt, a chocoholic. 

ETS – What are you working on now?  

I am working on three different projects, 

Short blurb: 

A SHADOW OF TIME: A Paranormal Romance 

Consumed by a childhood filled with terror and pain, Kellyn O’Brien strives to create the perfect family. Then, disaster strikes. Her husband is dead. Three weeks later, she discovers her son is heir to Shadow Ley, a nineteenth century estate located in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  
 
Still reeling from Michael’s death, Kellyn moves to Shadow Ley. Soon after her arrival, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary: broken drinking glasses repair themselves, stair rails that were once old are now new, and suddenly the estate of Shadow Ley is not what it seems. Frightened for herself, her son, and her unborn child, she seeks to understand. 
 
She turns to the local historian and hears the tale of Sha’ na ho bet, the angry fire god, forced from the sky and bound forever to Earth. Native Americans tell her about Coyote, the Dreamer and Trickster who creates order out of chaos and chaos out of order. Then the dreams begin with windows into past lives, hints of multidimensionality, and the promise of life beyond death.  
 
Legends abound and so Shadow Ley, the home Kellyn had hoped would bring peace to herself and her children, becomes mired first in doubt, then in terror, and finally in love eternal. 

REDEMPTION:  Paranormal Crime (I am considering making this a free read on my website and would like feedback from people as to whether or not they enjoy free reads on author websites.) 

35 year old Danny Wilkins is a drug addict. Hooked on meth, he turns to the God of his youth for help.

Married with three young boys, Danny had always dreamed dreams and visions of the future. Now known as the Pope on Dope, he unknowingly brings down a corrupt police department and leads a group of drug addicts to heaven’s door. For even within the depths of depravity God abides, waiting for those to lift an injured heart as sacrifice.  
 
Based on a true story, REDEMPTION will warm the heart and lift the spirits of those thought lost. Compassion and love lead the way, followed by guideposts of forgiveness and redemption that linger on. 

INTO THE GLOAMING: Paranormal Romance 

A sequel to Gemini Rising which will take Ryan from the Anasazi village in the Santa Cristos mountains back through time to find the love of life, a Native American woman who will assist Lucia, Ryan’s sister, in claiming their birthright and restoring Earth’s place within the Galactic Counsel. 

ETS – What is your writing process like?   

I make up stories, sometimes I dream them, sometimes they come to me while driving. The one that gets me excited, gets me writing. I get a general direction as to where I’m going, get to know my characters by spending time with them (I talk with them, get familiar with their body types and their emotions), then start writing. I do keep an outline that I flesh out as I go along, making it easier to keep the flow going. I can write whether it’s noisy or quiet. I do get irritated if someone deliberately tries to interrupt my train of thought especially when I’m in the middle of something I consider earth shattering.   

ETS – What piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?  

Never give up. Learn the mechanics of the craft then let your imagination soar. The only thing stopping you is yourself. Love what you do. 

ETS – Thanks so much for being with us today! 

 You can learn more about Louann and her book by visiting her website.  

Filed under Fangtastic Friday · Tagged with Gemini Rising, Louann Carroll